Dahlia plant named `Karma Thalia`

ABSTRACT

A dahlia plant variety producing red/purple flowers with the inner ray florets having an orange coloration which extends from the base up to about 1/3 of each ray floret.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of Dahliahybrida known by the varietal denomination `Karma Thalia`. The femaleparent of `Karma Thalia` is a variety known as `Fuchsiana` and the maleparent is the variety known as `Stratos` both of which are unpatentedundistributed varieties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety is a dahlia plant useful for growing outdoors and underglass which produces attractive red/purple flowers the inner ray floretshaving an orange coloration which extends from the base up to about 1/3of each ray floret. Among the traits possessed by the new variety whichin combination distinguish it from other varieties known to the inventorare its attractive flowers borne on long stems.

Asexual reproduction by cuttings of the new variety in The Netherlandshas demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as describedherein for `Karma Thalia` are firmly fixed and are retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The new variety differs from its parents in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows a typical plantof the new variety in colors as nearly true as possible with anillustration of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

In the following description, color references are to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, where color values refer to colorplate numbers in this chart.

The following observations are of plants described and grown in TheNetherlands under outdoor conditions which approximate those generallyused in commercial practice.

`Karma Thalia` has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment suchas temperature, light intensity, day length and cultural conditions.

Parentage:

Female parent.--`Fuchsiana`.

Male parent.--`Stratos`.

Plant

Form.--Upright, spreading.

Height.--About 110 cm.

Branching characteristics.--Freely branching.

Hardiness.--Plants are winter hardy to 0° C.

Natural flowering season.--July to November in The Netherlands underglass.

Disease resistance.--Similar to the species.

Flower stem.--Length: About 70 cm. Color: Near 59A.

Foliage.--Quantity: Many. Shape of leaf: Ovate, base and apex are acute.Leaf edge: Serrate. Texture: Leaf upperside: Leathery. Leaf under side:Smooth. Color: Leaf upperside: Near 137B. Leaf under side: Near 148B.Venation: Pinnate. Petiole length: About 5 cm. Stipules: None. Stemcolor: Near 59A.

Leaf arrangement and size.--Opposite, single or compound, compoundleaves of either 3 or 5 leaflets; leaf size single -- about 11 cm long,about 5.5 cm wide; leaf size compound -- about 24.8 cm long, about 14 cmwide.

Sepals:

Numbers.--About 15.

Length.--About 1.8 cm.

Width.--About 1.2 cm.

Color.--Near 137A.

Base.--Rounded.

Apex.--Broadly acute.

Bud:

Form.--Globular.

Size.--About 1 cm.

Opening rate.--About 14 days.

Color of ray florets.--When sepals first divide near 57B; when rayflorets begin to unfurl near 57B.

Flower:

Inflorescence.--Form: Blooms borne singly. Type: Decorative. Diameter:About 12 to 13 cm. Number of flowers: About 50 to 60. Response: About 35days from pinch.

Color tonality from a distance.--Red/violet.

Lasting quality.--About 14 to 19 days on plant; about 7 to 9 days aftercutting.

Ray florets:

Length.--About 5.8 cm.

Width.--About 2.8 cm.

Shape.--Oblong.

Apex.--Obtuse.

Base.--Rounded.

Color.--Ray florets are red/purple with the inner ray florets having anorange coloration which extends from the base up to about 1/3 of eachray floret. Inner ray florets (upper surface and undersurface): Near67A; Near 26B from the base up to about 1/3 of each ray floret. Outerray florets (upper surface and undersurface): Near 67B. Point of rayfloret attachment: Near 26B. As bloom ages: Colors fade to near 57C withstrong streaking of near 26B. Fragrance: None.

Disc florets:

Number.--About 15.

Length.--About 1 cm.

Color.--Near 8A.

Shape.--Cylindric.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--Tubular, near 16A.

Anthers.--Small, near 16A.

Pollen.--Near 16A.

Pistils.--Styles length about 2 to 3 mm, color near 13B; stigmasdivided, near 13B.

Character of ovaries.--1 per pistil.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct dahlia plant of the variety substantiallyas shown and described.